What are Congenital CNS abnormalities?

Also known as: Fetal central nervous system abnormalities, Fetal CNS anomalies, Intrauterine brain and/or spinal cord birth defects

Congenital abnormalities of the CNS are birth defects of the physical structure of the brain or spinal cord that occur during fetal intrauterine growth.

This blanket term encompasses a broad range of disorders and medical conditions, from minor abnormalities to severe ones, including spina bifida (in which the spinal cord doesn't form properly), or microcephaly, in which brain growth is inhibited.

---

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM